Maggie

How is it that Maggie, my ten-year old Vizsla, is so excited every morning upon waking up? She’s not a puppy any more, but you wouldn’t know it at 6:00 am, with the sun streaming in and the gulls screeching. As soon as I move, she leaps from her bed and throws herself on the floor at my bedside. She rolls over and arches her back, twisting. Then she rights herself, stretches, squeals, and rolls over again. I struggle to get out of bed amidst her bounding and cavorting. Lastly, she rises, braces her legs in support and flaps her ears. Lately she has taken to letting out a deep resounding howl, as if to announce to the world that she has risen. It is all, frankly, annoying. But learning by repetition can be very annoying, can’t it?

By that I mean, every morning, rain or shine, Maggie performs her routine at my feet. All that excitement and enthusiasm and joy. Every morning that lesson gets drilled into me. You must see where I’m going here. Who musters such happiness at the prospect of every single day? Really, who? My dog, that’s who. Life should be so simply learned as to watch our dogs and emulate them. Unconditional love, curiosity, loyalty, boundless joy. (Yes, I’m only listing the good stuff, not the chewed shoes, the ruined carpet, the surprise in the closet.) And the current lesson: a canine reminder, carpe diem. I’m a slow learner. Maggie’s a good teacher. And her work is not yet done.

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This made my laugh, I reread it several times. So the dog took up howling when she got up in the morning. Maybe that is what I’m doing when I get up, jot down some thoughts, and play some music. Hoooowwwlll…….